SPORTSMAIL SAYS...

The blogger claimed Chang demanded to know who his alleged mole was but Cummins pointed out that all his information was lifted from fans' forums.

After accusing Cummins of costing the club £300,000 extra in the Fabio Borini transfer from Roma this summer because of 'information' posted on the Jenkins Twitter feed.

It is then alleged that Chang demanded he tweet under the fake account to 'confess' there was no mole and the whole account was made up.

Take a seat: Jen Chang met 'Duncan Jenkins' in Manchester after believing there was a mole in Anfield

Chang described the allegations about threats made at the meeting as 'fictitious nonsense'.

After Cummins complained, Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre spoke to both men before apologising for Chang’s error.

In his letter to Cummins he wrote: ‘I
acknowledge some of the elements you highlight were not appropriate. I
would therefore like to apologise to you on behalf of Liverpool FC, for
any upset and distress this caused you.’

'Clearly it is not appropriate for me to comment on how the club is managing this internally, and I trust you understand this.'

Apology: Ian Ayre has admitted Chang was in the wrong when he met spoof journalist 'Duncan Jenkins' (right)

Chang, who was unavailable for comment, will have been admonished by the club's owners for the embarrassment he has caused.

Cummins said: 'All I ever wanted was an apology and I got one in writing.'

COMMENT FROM SPORTSMAIL'S MAN ON MERSEYSIDE

How dark the irony. After one of the most difficult spell in Liverpool’s recent history, when they came under attack for a series of botched PR campaigns, they are forced to apologise for the actions of the man who had been drafted in to help improve their image.

Jen Chang is likely to continue in his role of Liverpool’s Director of Communications but only after receiving a huge slap across the wrists for bringing embarrassment on the club for his ill-advised pursuit of a spoof Twitter account.

Quite why he so vigorously pursued Sean Cummins, the Liverpool fan behind the character Duncan Jenkins, only Chang will know but he should regret his actions. They have led to an unedifying episode and given the club’s critics – of whom there are many – further chance to snigger.

This might not have been an incident that provoked as many gasps as the one when Liverpool’s squad wore t-shirts at Wigan in support of Luis Suarez after he had been charged by the FA but it will have certainly damaged the club’s perception.

It will certainly not have gone down well in the eyes of John W Henry, Liverpool's principal American owner, who is absolutely aware of how new media impacts.

Most alarming were the allegations made by Cummins against Chang following a meeting in Manchester restaurant in August. From the picture Cummins painted, Chang made Liverpool fans out to be a baying mob, who would stop at nothing if they felt their club was being damaged.

What was actually said across the dinner table during the 1hour 46minutes Cummins and Chang were together in Manchester, only they will know but, for Ayre to issue a written apology, it is clear Chang did not act in the manner befitting a Director of Communications.

In this era of social networking websites and the ever-expanding internet, those who hold significant positions – particularly in football – are duty bound to behave appropriately at all times. As Chang will know now, the failure to do so only leads to embarrassment.